Media Release
Photos : Stanly Bantwal
Mangaluru, July 25 : Msgr Maxim Noronha the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangaluru inaugurated the Kannada Tele Serial on ‘The life of St Anthony’ by playing the title song of the serial on the T.V. screen at Bishop’s house on 25th July, 2019.
St Anthony’s Ashram Jeppu, Mangalore is the producer of the Tele Serial on the life of Saint Anthony of Padua. It will be telecast on Door Dashan Chandana Channel beginning from Sunday, 28th of July. The Tele Serial has 8 episodes and each episode is of half an hour duration. The Tele Serial on the life of Saint Anthony in Kannada to be telecast in a national channel is a first of its kind.
Saint Anthony was born in Portugal in the year 1195 and died in 1231. In his short life of 36 years he preached the Good News and performed number of miracles including raising dead to life. His tongue is still fresh and is preserved in the Basilica dedicated to him in Padua of Italy. He exercised major part of his ministry in Padua. Hence the name St Anthony of Padua.
St Anthony is a very popular Saint in the Catholic Church. After Mother Mary it is Saint Anthony to whom large number of Churches and Shrines are dedicated all around the world. In any part of the world one can find a Church or a Chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony.
The devotion of St Anthony has a history of 121 years in Mangaluru. Late Msgr M.P. Colaco started novena to St Anthony on 12th June 1898. Since then the devotion has been conducted on every Tuesday without fail. Scores of people have benefitted from this devotion irrespective of caste and creed, people from India and abroad.
The devotion of Saint Anthony is popular in Karnataka too. Like in Mangaluru there are few other popular shrines dedicated to Saint Anthony in Karnataka viz. Dornahalli in Mysore, T.C. Pallya in Bengaluru, Kerekatte in Udupi. The Tele Serial in Kannada will help devotees of St Anthony in Karnataka and Kannada speaking people around the world to know the life of Saint and to draw inspiration from him.
The Serial is directed and edited by Mr Vincent Fernandes of Mogachi Larha fame and producer cum director of ‘Choliye Chatrai’ Konkani Tele Serial. Mr John M Permannur well known dramatist has written the script. Popular cine actors like Shri Ramesh Bhat, Ms Asha Latha, Shri Anup Shetty, Ms Prathama have acted in the Serial. Shri Ravindra Prabhu wel known singer has sung the title song. In all 60 artists act in the serial.
Fr Onil D’Souza the director of the Ashram briefed the media persons on the serial. Mr Srinivas the President of the Press Club Mangaluru, the Asst Directors of the Ashram-Fr Thrishan D’Souza, Fr Roshan D’Souza, Mr Vincent Fernandes, Mr John M Permannur, Mr Stanley D’Cunha were present on the occasion.
